Real Property (Limitations)

Real Property Limitations Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. L.15

4 No person shall make an entry or distress, or bring an action to recover any land or rent, but within ten years next after the time at which the right to make such entry or distress, or to bring such action, first accrued to some person through whom the person making or bringing it claims, or if the right did not accrue to any person through whom that person claims, then within ten years next after the time at which the right to make such entry or distress, or to bring such action, first accrued to the person making or bringing it. R.S.O. 1990, c. L.15, s. 4.

6 (1) If the person last entitled to any particular estate on which any future estate or interest was expectant has not been in the possession or receipt of the profits of the land, or in receipt of the rent, at the time when the person’s interest determined, no such entry or distress shall be made and no such action shall be brought by any person becoming entitled in possession to a future estate or interest but within ten years next after the time when the right to make an entry or distress, or to bring an action for the recovery of the land or rent, first accrued to the person whose interest has so determined, or within five years next after the time when the estate of the person becoming entitled in possession has become vested in possession, whichever of those two periods is the longer.

(2) If the right of any such person to make such entry or distress, or to bring any such action, has been barred, no person afterwards claiming to be entitled to the same land or rent in respect of any subsequent estate or interest under any deed, will or settlement executed or taking effect after the time when a right to make an entry or distress or to bring an action for the recovery of the land or rent, first accrued to the owner of the particular estate whose interest has so determined, shall make any entry or distress, or bring any action, to recover the land or rent.

15 At the determination of the period limited by this Act to any person for making an entry or distress or bringing any action, the right and title of such person to the land or rent, for the recovery whereof such entry, distress or action, respectively, might have been made or brought within such period, is extinguished.

42 Where land or rent is vested in a trustee upon an express trust, the right of the beneficiary of the trust or a person claiming through the beneficiary to bring an action against the trustee or a person claiming through the trustee to recover the land or rent, shall be deemed to have first accrued, according to the meaning of this Act, at and not before the time at which the land or rent has been conveyed to a purchaser for a valuable consideration, and shall then be deemed to have accrued only as against such purchaser and any person claiming through the purchaser.

Section 42 of the Real Property Limitations Act, R.S.O. 1990

42. Where land or rent is vested in a trustee upon an express trust, the right of the beneficiary of the trust or a person claiming through the beneficiary to bring an action against the trustee or a person claiming through the trustee to recover the land or rent, shall be deemed to have first accrued, according to the meaning of this Act, at and not before the time at which the land or rent has been conveyed to a purchaser for a valuable consideration, and shall then be deemed to have accrued only as against such purchaser and any person claiming through the purchaser. 2002, c. 24, Sched. B, s. 26 (1).

McConnell v. Huxtable, 2014 ONCA 86, 2014 CarswellOnt 1152

39. From the plain meaning of the words "action to recover any land" in section 4 of the Real Property Limitations Act, in their "entire context" as described above, I find that the applicant's claim in this case for an ownership interest in the house in question is an "action to recover any land" within the meaning of section 4 of the Real Property Limitations Act. It is subject to a ten year limitation period. Based on the record before me, it is not possible for me to conclude that the applicant's claim in this case is barred by the ten year limitation. Accordingly, this part of her claim is entitled to proceed.

Sinclair v. Harris, 2018 ONSC 5718, 2018 CarswellOnt 16149

22. The words "action to recover any land" in s. 4 of the RPLA are not limited to claims for possession of land or to regain something a plaintiff has lost. Rather, "to recover any land" means simply "to obtain any land by judgment of the Court" and thus these words also encompass claims for a declaration in respect of land and claims to the ownership of land advanced by way of resulting or constructive trust: Hartman Estate v. Hartfam Holdings Ltd., [2006] O.J. No. 69, at para. 56; McConnell v. Huxtable, 2014 ONCA 86, 118 O.R. (3d) 561, at paras. 38 - 39.

28. The next issue is when the plaintiffs' right to recover the land first accrued. Here, it is the estate of Ms. Rock that is suing on the basis of the resulting trust. I find that there is no juridical reason to treat this distinction as a meaningful one in this context. In my view, the plaintiffs' right to bring an action accrued on the date that the resulting trust was created. In other words, on the date that Ms. Rock gave the defendants the monies to purchase the Beeton property, she could have brought an action for her interest in the property. The fact that she chose not to exercise it did not mean she did not have the right to bring an action for the return of her interest in the land on the day the resulting trust was created: McVan General Contracting Ltd. v. Arthur, [2002] O.J. No. 3336 (Ont. C.A.) at paras. 18-19.